Can-syruping machine.



ALJ. KEAST.

CAN SYRUPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION Plum FEB. 15, 1910.

Patented June 21, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 J 0 MM 14 w 4 Z 4 wk 52% M w 5 I1. I 0 WI 1 w Z 7 1 m aM 4 J at it r i t ALFRED JOHN KEAST, OF SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNORTO CALIFOBN1; FRUIT GANNERS ASSOCIATION, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ACORPORATION OF Specification of Letters Patent. Patentdl June 21, 1910.

CALIFORNIA.

* CAN-SYRUPING MACHINE.

Application filed February 15, 1910. Serial No. 543,930.

To allwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED JOHN QKEAST, a citizen of the United States,residing at San Jose, in the county of Santa Clara and State ofCalifornia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCan-Syruping Machines, of which the following is a specification. 1

My'invention relates to that general class of machines for filling canswith syrup, in which cans in rotating succession'are supplied with syrupdelivered through pi es from a syrup tank; though it is applica le tothe syr'uping of cans in whatever manner presented, whether in rotatingsuccession or in groupsor batches or otherwise.

The objects of my invention are economy in the matter, of syrup, andcleanliness in operation and result; and to these ends my inventionconsists generally in means for primarily supplying the can with syrupin excess of its needs, and means in conjunction therewith for removingsaid excess and saving it for use again. I

It also consists in the novel constructions, combinations andarrangements which I shall now fully describe by reference to theaccompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is an elevation, partly insection, of my machine. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same. Fig. 3 is anenlarged detail of the presser foot'and syrup nozzle, together with thesuction nozzle, showing said parts in connection with a can.

1 is a stand, in the base of which is supported a central pillar 2 whichrises above the stand a suflicient distance to carry from its top therotating parts of the machine.

3 is a bushing into the lower port-ion of which the pillar 2 enters,said bushing being supported on top of the pillar and rotatably mountedthereon, a suitable joint being formed by the gland 4 and the packing 5.From the base of the bushing 3, by means of hangers 6, is sus ended thenotched annular cam-ring 7 whic in'turn, through hangers 8, suspend thecan-table 9, the stemguide ring 10 and the gear 11, in the order named.From a flange 12 secured on the central pillar 2 is supported a fixedtrack' 13, a portion of which is on a-lower level than the-f'remainderand joins the latter by a suitable grade, as seen at 14-. On the can isguided down through ring 10, and rests its lower end upon and intraveling contact with the graded track 13, whereby the. can holders 15are raised and dro ped in timely succession. In each holder 15 1s a can18.

19 is a suitable journal of bearing to steady the revolving parts on thepillar 2. Any suitable means may be employed to drive the gear 11.pinion 20, shaft 21, bevelgears at 22 and a belt drive 23.

Into the upper end of the bushing 3 is entered a nomrotating shaft 24,upon which as an axis the bushing rot-ates, a, suitable joint being madeby the gland 25 and packing 26. This shaft 2% 1s hollow, as indicated bdotted lines its lower end being plugge Just-above its lower and holes27, in annular series, are made through-its wall. At the upper end ofthe shaft a communication is made with a supply pipe 28' which may besupposed to, proceed from the syrup tank. This communication iscontrolled 'by a shut-ofl? valve 29. In the bushing 3 is formed achambertill surrounding the holes vided with down turned delivery extensions ornozzles 32, controlled'byvalves 33. The extremit of the nozzle 32 hasfitted to it a presser oot 34, througha hole or holes 35 in the side ofwhich the syrup issues to 'fill the cans; The central pillar 2 is aIsohoI low, as indicated. in dotted lines, its upper end being In ged. Justbelowthe upper end are ma e t' 'ough its walls, the holes 36 in annularseries. In the bushing- 3", surroundi'n the holes 36 is made a chamber37 whic is tapped' by ipes 38 radiall extending and provided with downturns nozzles 39 lying beside the'syrup nozzles 32, said nozzles 39(which are the'suction noazles) being controlled by valves 40.

Supported by a collar 41 and bracket arms 42 from the stationary shaft24 is. a cam ring 42, against which the lever handles 43 of the valves40 impingaand by which in conjunction with s rings 4.4 said I have hereshown a handles are timely o crate to 0 en and close the suction nozzes. With t e lower portion ofthe hollow pillar 2, a pipe 45 communicates which may be supposed to lead to a source of suction, such as apump unnecessary to show.

Each of the radial syrup pipes 31 is fitted with a valve 33, which has abell-crank or angled handle 47. Pivoted to a bracket 48 of stand 1 is atri -lever 49 controlled by a spring so that its ower end standsnormally in the path of the cans as shown in dotted lines and its upperendlies outside the path of the valve handles 47. Butwhen a can contactswith the lower end of said tri lever, the upper end of said lever williie thrown into the path of the valve-handles 47.

50, Fig. 2, is afixed arm'which lies in the path of thevalve handles 47,which by contact with said arm closes said valves.

The operation of the machine is as followsz-I have not deemed itnecessary to illustrate thefeed and discharge of the cans to and fromthe machine, as mechanisms for this purpose are wellknown. The cans areof the t pe' with full-open upper ends, as seen in ig. 3, and each hasbeen filled with its fruit or other solid contents and is ready toreceive the syrup. A can is placed on a holder 15 when said holder is atits lowest position, due to the lower level of the graded track 13. Inthis position its top is well below the delivery ends of the syrupandsuction nozzles 32 and 39. The can, in its travel, contacts with thelower end of tri -lever 49, which being forced outwardly, t owe the uper end into the path of the valve handle 4 and as the handle moves pastsaid upper end, the valve 46 is opened and thesyrup flows. The can beinglifted and held up by the up er level of the track 13, its top encirclesthe ends of the nozzles 32 and 39 as seenin Fig. 3. The foot 34 of thesyrup nozzle presses the solid contents of the can well down, and thesyrup flowing from the holes35 in the foot fills t e can. The suctionnozzle 39 enters the can but a short distance that is to the level towhich the can is to have its charge of syrup, say, in practice, abouthalf, an inch from the top.' B the time the can is filled toor abovethis evel thecam ring 42 has thrown back-the handle 43 of valve'40 andhas thereby opened the suction nozzle. The surplus syrup is thus suckedout down to the required level, and said syrup passes back through-thesuction pump'andis delivered to the tank for use again. Then when thecan reaches the 'oint at which the flow of syrup is to cease, t e valvehandle 47 contacts with the arm 50, which thereby closes the syrup valve46. The arrangement of thetrip-lever 49, is such that it will only openthe syrup valve in case there is a can in place to receive the syrupl Ifno can is there, the trip-lever is inoperative. There is. thus no waste,(a matter of considerable moment in large plants) and as there is nospill or overflow, the operation is a clean one, and is distinctlysuperior to the practice of submerging cans in syrup to fill them, asthere is no drip from the can and its surface is kept clean. Moreoverthe saving of the film of syrup which on submerged cans is wasted, isconsiderable. This 0' eration is also advantageous in that there is'nonecessity for a stated or fixed syru charge, each can being primarilysupplie with more than-it needs and the surplus removed to reduce it tothe proper amount. This avoids complicated charge measuring devices andthereby simplifies the machine. The presser foot 34 is of advantageinusin thls type of can with full open tops, for t ereis nothing to holdthe solid contents down, as there is with the ordinary capped cans. Butthe presser foot does this and thus rovides accurately for the syrupcapacity 0 the can.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desiretoprotect by Letters Patent is 1. In a can syruping-machine, thecombination of a travelin .0311 table; canholders carried by the ta le;pipes traveling in unison with the table and overlying the cans in theholders, said pipes being connected with a source of syrup for supplyingsaid, cans; other ipes traveling in unison with the table, and extendingbeside the first pipes, said other pipes being connected with a sourceof suction; and means for timely bringing the cans and pipes together toenter the ends of both pipes into the cans to a predetermined level, tosupply the cans with syrup and remove therefrom the excess, of saisyrup.

'2. In a can syruping-machine, the combination" of a travelin can table;canholders carried b the ta 1e; pipes traveling in unison witht e tableand overlying the cans in the holders, said pipes being connected with asource of syrup for supplying said cans; other ipes traveling in unisonwith the table, and extending beside the first pipes, said other pipesbeing connected with a source of suction; means for timely bring-' inthe cans and pipes to ether to enter the en s of both pi es into t ecans to a predetermined leve, to sup ly the cans with syrup and removethere rom the excess of said syrup; and valves automatically operatedthrough suitable connections, by the travel of the table, to-control-theoperation of both pipes. J

3. In a can syruping-machine, the combination of a rotatable can table;an annular series of can-holders on said table; a series of ipestraveling in unison with the table and overlying the cans in theholders, said pipes being connected with a source of syrup for supplyingsaid cans; a series of other pipes traveling in unison with the table,and extending beside the first pipes, said other pipes being connectedwith a source of suction; means for timely bringing the cans eeaoee andpipes together to enter the ends of both pipes into the cans to apredeterminedlevel, to su ply the cans with syrup and remove there romthe excess of said syrup, and valves automatically operated throughsuitable connections, by the travel of the table, to control theoperation of both pipes. I

4. In a can syruping-machine, the combination of 'a holder for the can;a pipe for supplying the can with syrup, said pipe having on its lowerend a presser foot; and

- means for bringing the can contents and the presser foot in pressingcontact, whereby the can contents are held down while the syrup is beingsupplied.

5'. In a can syruping-lnachine, the combination of a holder for the can;a pipe for supplying the can with syrup, said ipe having on its lowerend a presser oot; means for bringing the can contents and the presserfoot in pressing contact, whereby the can contents are held down whilethe syrup is being supplied; a suction pipe entering the can to apredetermined level; and means for eiiecting suction in said suctionpipe while the can is being filled with syrup, to fempve the syrup abovesaid predetermined eve 6. In a can syruping-machine, the combination ofa rotatable can-table; an annular series of can-holders carried by thetable; a hollow non-rotatable shaft located in the axis of rotation ofthe can-table, said shaft communicating above with a source of syrup andhaving below an exit for the syrup; a hollow non-rotatable pillar alinedwith the hollow shaft in the axis of rotation of the can-table, saidpillar communicating below with a source of suction and having above aninlet for the syrup; a bushing connected to and rotatable with thecan-table, said bushing having the adjacent' ends of the shaft andpillar for an axis of rotation, and provided with two independentchambers, the upper encirclin hollow shaft, and t e lower encircling thesyrup inletofthehollow pillar; radial pipes fitted to the bushing and taping the upper chamber; radial ipes fitte tothe bushing and tapping thelbwer chamber; syrup filling nozzles fitted to the upper pipes above thecan holders; syrup suction nozzles fitted to the lower pi 5 above thecan holders; means for elfectlng the approach of nozzles and can holdersto enter the suction nozzles into their open tops to a predeterminedlevel; and means for simultaneously efl'ecting the delivery flow of thesyrup through the upper nozzles and the suction flow'of an excess ofsyrup through the lower nozzles.

7. In a can syruping-machine, the combination of a rotatable can-table;an annular series of can-holders carried by the table; a hollownon-rotatable shaft located in the axis of rotation of the can-table,said shaft the syrup exit of the an inlet for the syrup; a bushingconnected to and rotatable with the can-table, said bushing having theadjacent ends of the shaft and pillar for an axis of rotation, andprovided -with two independent chambers, the upper encircling the syrupexit ofthe .hollow shaft, and the lower encircling the syrup inlet ofthe hollow pillar; radial pipes fitted to the bushing and tapping theupper chamber; radial pipes fitted to the bushing and tapping the lowerchamber; syrup fillmg nozzles fitted to the upper pipes above the canholders, said nozzleshaving presser.

feet; syrup suction nozzles fitted to the lower pi es above the canholders; means for e ecting the approach of nozzles and can holders toefi'ect a pressing contact of the presser feet. of the filling nozzleswith the can'contents and to enter the suction nozzles into their opentopsto apredetermined level; and means for simultaneously efiecting thedelivery flow of the syrup through the upper nozzles and the suctionflow of an excess of syrup through the lower nozzles.

8. In a can syruping-machine, the combination of a rotatable can-table;an annular series of can-'holders-carried' by the table;

' a hollow non-rotatable shaft located in the axis of rotation of thecan-table, said shaft communicating above witha source of syrup andhaving below an exit for the syrup; a

hollow non-rotatable pillar alined with the hollow shaft in the axisofrotation of the can-table, said pillar communicating below with asource of' suction and having above an inlet for the syrup; a bushingconnected to and rotatable with the can-table, said bushing having theadjacent ends ofthe shaft and pillar for an axis of rotation, andprovided with two independent chambers, theiupper encirclin the syrupexit of the hollow shaft, and t e lower encircling the syrup inlet ofthe hollow pilla r; radial 'pes fitted to the bushing and ta ping the'ower chamber; syru filling nozz esfitted to the upper pipes a ove thecan holders; syrup suction nozzles fitted to the lower pipes above thecan holders; means :tor efl'ectmg 'the approach of nozzles and canholders to 9. In a can syruping-machine, the combi-- nation of arotatable can-table; an annular hollow shaft in-the axis of rotation ofthecan-table, said pillar communicating below with a source of suctionand having above an inlet for the syrup; a bushing connected vto androtatable with the can-table, said bushing having the adjacent ends ofthe shaft and pillar for an axis of rotation,and provided with twoindependent chambers, the upper encirclin hollow shaft, and-t 'e lowerencircling the syrup inlet of the hollow pillar; radial pipes fittedto-the bushing and ta ping the upper chamber; radial ipes fit to thebushmg and tapping the lbwer chamber; syrup filling nozzles fitted tothe upper pipes above the can holders, said nozzles having presser thesyrup exit of the feet; syrup suction nozzles fitted to the lowerpiiipes above the can holders; means for e ecting the approach of.nozzles and can holders to efiect a pressing contact of the presser feetof the filling nozzles with the can contents and to enter the suctionnozzles into their open tops to a predetermined level; valves forcontrolling both sets of nozzles, and a means dependent on the rotationof the parts to operate said valves for simultaneously efiecting thedelivery flow of the syrup through the upper nozzles and the suctionflow of an excess ofsyrup through.

the lower nozzles.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to'this specification in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses.

ALFRED JOHN KEAST.

